Mold growth and clean up

If you are the owner of a property one of the worst things that can happen is mold. Mold in houses are created when moister gets trapped and cannot escape. If you think you have mold in your house it might be a good idea to get a mold inspection done and since time is crucial in order to minimize the spread of the mold it is good to have mold testing done as soon as you notices some of these early warning signs:

• The first thing that most people think about when it comes to detecting mold is the smell. Mold has a very strong smell and we as humans are hard wired to notice it since it can be dangerous to our health. A mold inspector can also confirm that the smell is from mold and not from another problem.

• If you find yourself having headaches or constant colds it might be an early sign of mold and having a contractor coming in and preforming a mold testing can be a good idea.

• If the wallpaper is starting to crumble that is a sign of moister in the walls and that is one of the best breeding grounds for mold so to find out why there is moister behind the wallpaper and fixing the problem that is found is a good way to stop mold from taking hold in the first place.

• Newly built houses are very friendly on the wallet when it comes to heating and cooling because they are very well insulated and not as drafty as old houses. For the same reason they are more prone to mold infestations since any water or moister that is getting trapped cannot escape as easy as it could in old and drafty houses.

• If you live in a humid climate and do not run the A/C unit for a while mold can start growing in the house as the moist, hot and standing air is perfect for mold to start growing in. This is common with vacation houses or cottages where many people are trying to save money by not running the A/C while not present but that can cost in the long run when the mold gets a hold in the property. Better then to let the A/C run but at a high temperature to keep cooling cost down while not there.

How to perform a mold clean up

Mold remediation when performed by will be different depending on a number of things from what kind of mold that has infected the house and how wide spread the growth is as well as where the mold is growing. If you only have a small amount of mold behind a wallpaper and you know why the mold got there e.g. something was spilled a while ago against the wallpaper then simply removing the wallpaper in the room and cleaning out the mold might be enough.

If you do not know why you have mold or if you start removing layers from the walls but you cannot find the source of the mold it is time to bring in a professional. The good news is that mold removal has gotten much better over the years it used to be that mold could sometimes not be stopped and the whole house had to be rebuilt these days almost all mold infestations can be dealt with. However, mold removal can be a very expensive thing depending on some different factors including:

• The source of the mold. If the mold is growing because a pipe is leaking it could have spread through out the house inside most of the walls and the walls might have to be opened up to remove the mold and a plumber will have to be contacted in order to fix the plumbing.
• If the mold is from a leaking roof it will often mean that the whole roof needs to be replaced since mold can easily spread through the roof especially if there is an attic. As heat rises it gets stuck in the attic before leaking outside keeping the attic hot and providing a breeding ground for mold.
• If the mold is in the A/C unit it often means that the mold has spread throughout the house and giving the right circumstances it can get hold in many different spaces. In cases like this it is often needed to inspect most of the house for mold to make sure it did not spread.

The Dangers Of Mold

Mold can be very dangerous to you and your family if left untreated. It’s possible to have mold in your home and not even know it. Mold belongs to a group of organism called fungi and it can grow any place where the conditions are just right.

You can actually find mold just about anywhere you look but there are different types and strands of mold that are harmful to you and your health. Mold in small amounts won’t hurt you but there isn’t any type of mold that isn’t dangerous if it’s inhaled.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as headache, runny nose, sneezing and coughing then there is a good chance that you have been exposed to mold or you are currently living in a home that has mold in it.

Does a Seller Have to Disclose Mold?
Most states require that a home seller disclose whether or not the home has mold or not. Furthermore, it’s also required that if the home has had mold in the past and the seller had is removed then they are also required to disclose that information as well. If the seller fails to disclose that the home has mold and the purchaser finds mold in the home after the closing then the seller will be financially responsible for any cost associated with the mold removal from the home.

How Much Do Mold Inspections Cost?
The cost of the mold inspection will all depend on the size of your home, apartment or townhome.

For a small to mid-size home or apartment that is less than fifteen hundred square feet you can expect to pay between two and three hundred dollars. If your home is two to three thousand square feet then you can expect to pay between four and five hundred dollars. For a home that is over four thousand square feet then the cost goes up to about nine hundred dollars.

Keep in mind that this is just the cost for the actual inspection and doesn’t always include testing fees or cost. If the mold testing fees aren’t included in the inspection cost then you are looking to pay an additional five to six hundred dollars for the testing fees.

How Long Does a Mold Inspection Take?

In most cases you should be able to get a technician out to your location to do the inspection and testing within twenty four hours. Once they are onsite then the inspection and gathering of mold will take anywhere between two to four hours and the actual time will depend on the size of your home. Once the technician has gathered all the information and specimens he will then take it to the lab for testing. You should receive your test result within two to four business days

If I have Mold How Do I Get It Removed?
If your test results do in fact show that there is mold in your home then you will need to have it removed. If left in your home it could cause very serious health problems for you and your family. Here is where most people cringe. The cost of mold clean up isn’t cheap and in fact can cost thousands of dollars. In order for the mold remediation to take place you will probably need to leave your home until the process is over. It will probably take a full day so you might want to go and stay with a family member until the technicians are completely finished.

Once again the actual cost of to remove the mold from your home will depend on the size of your home and just how far the mold has spread but you can expect to pay anywhere from fifteen hundred dollars up to five thousand dollars.

This is a large sum of money and not everyone will have the money just lying around to spend. If you own your home you can always file a claim with your homeowners insurance to help with the money out of your pocket. If you rent your home then your landlord is legally liable and responsible for all of the cost associated with removing the mold from your home.

The most important thing to remember is that you can’t just let your mold issue go. It has to be addressed because the health risks are far greater than the cost to get of the mold in your home. It might be a little stressful but you will be glad that you had it done.

How to Inspect for Mold and Remove it

What is Mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that can be found indoors or outdoors. It reproduces through spores, which can travel and settle in an area, and then continue to grow and multiply. Mold needs moisture to exist, and homes or other structures can be a perfect source of that. Paper, drywall, wood and wallpaper all contain cellulose, which mold feeds on. Leaky pipes and a badly insulated HVAC system can lead to moisture building up.

Mold Inspection

The first step to take towards a potential mold problem is to find out how much is present. Mold can be spotted easily if there’s a good amount of it, or it can be hidden. Black mold is black in color. If a musty smell hangs in the air, that can be a sign of mold. Also, if people in a household suffer from mold-related health issues, like respiratory problems, that can also signal the presence of mold.

Places like basements, where moisture can get trapped, are popular environments for mold to grow in. Mold can grow at any time or season, like winter. If a house isn’t ventilated properly, mold can grow more easily. For instance, in the summer, if windows aren’t opened, mold can grow indoors. And, in the winter, if humidifiers are used inside the house, this can potentially allow mold to grow.

Since mold is microscopic, and there can be very little or a lot of it, it’s hard to catch with the naked eye. A solution to this problem is to hire a professional contractor.

When deciding to hire a company to conduct mold inspection, it is important to check its certifications, licensing, years in service and reviews if there are any. All of these may be found online. A phone number or email address, if available, allows for direct contact with company staff.

If a company is a part of any organization, that is a good sign that it has experience and will thoroughly inspect a building or house.

Mold Testing

A testing kit can be bought and used by a homeowner. Or, a mold tester can be hired to do the job properly. And, analysis of any samples should stick to the methods provided by a trustworthy organization, such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association, or AIHA.

When it comes to houses, professionals may obtain a sample from an area and test it to see if mold is present and how much of it there is. While a little bit of mold may not be a problem, bigger amounts are, and if no testing is done, the problem can get bigger and bigger. Hidden mold can grow and turn dangerous, so sampling should be conducted.

Mold Remediation and Mold Clean Up

The term mold remediation basically refers to the clean up of mold as well as the prevention of mold from coming back. While this can be done without hiring a professional, for example by using a mold removal kit or cleaning sprays, the mold may not be adequately removed. Hiring experienced people is the best idea.

The process of mold clean up is a complex one, and varies from structure to structure. In general, professionals will enter a building or a house while wearing protective clothing and equipment, which can include gloves and facial gear. They will seek out objects that show mold growth, and get rid of them. Areas that show mold growth will need to be contained, and the mold removed. They may use equipment to filter air. Cleaning supplies will be used. Afterwards, the areas will need to dry.

The equipment used in the process can include HVAC vacuums. Anything used to clean should be strong enough to kill mold. Humidity levels can be checked to make sure mold will not be a problem.

Afterwards, preventing mold from coming back is very important. Any issues regarding moisture need to be monitored, which is crucial moving forward. Walls or carpeting that has been removed or damaged during clean up may need to be repaired. Sometimes, the majority of a house can have mold infestation; in that case, it may be best to not live in it anymore.

Meriwether County Sherrif
